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How and Why to Eat Sardines

I recently decided I don’t like to eat meat that much because the taste of it grosses me out. So I started eating tuna because it’s much more palatable to me.

Then my husband decided he doesn’t want to deal with a senile wife 30 years from now – brought on by mercury poisoning – and he 86-ed the tuna.

A few of my friends swear by sardines, so I decided I’d give them a try. Turns out they’re AMAZING! I eat them every day now. More on how I eat them in a moment, but first I want to tell you another reason, aside from them being delicious, that you should eat them.

They’re nutritional powerhouses.

My naturopath told me to take fish oil supplements, but I hate taking those things. They give me weird burps. Remember, omega 3 fatty acids help lower inflammation in your body, which means less heart disease, diabetes, pain, skin problems, and many other things. Well, it turns out that sardines have more omega 3’s in them than many supplements, plus the added benefit of calcium (from the bones), iron, potassium, vitamin B12, choline, and a ton of protein.

So you can see that these nutrient amounts are really up there with some of the top sources of them. I mean, if you’re worried about calcium intake on Paleo, here’s your answer.

Now, let’s talk a little bit more about the omega 3’s.

If I were to take the fish oil supplement my ND wanted me to take, which was called LipiChol540 by PharmaceutiX and costs about $75 per 60 capsules… I would’ve gotten the following:

EPA per 2 capsules – 155 mg

DHA per 2 capsules – 105 mg

That means I’d have to take 14 capsules to get the same amount that’s in one can of sardines…

Another brand of omega 3 fish oil capsules that’s good and popular is Designs for Health. They have a product called OmegAvail Ultra, which is their highest dosage of omegas and costs about $75 for 240 capsules. It contains the following:

EPA per 2 capsules – 600 mg

DHA per 2 capsules – 400 mg

That means I’d have to take 4 capsules to get the same amount that’s in one can of sardines…

That’s a lot of pills.

So how do I eat them?

I take a can of sardines and pour it all into a bowl. Yes, even the oil.

Then I add half an avocado and about a teaspoon of mustard and smash it all up with a fork. It turns into sort of an artichoke dip-like consistency.

Then I eat it with vegetables (carrots and celery do well) as a dip, or on potato or sweet potato chips (yes, I eat chips sometimes and I’m still alive), or on a tapioca crepe.

You could add anything you want to this mixture, just as you would a tuna salad. Maybe some peppers, spinach, cabbage, onions, olives, tomatoes, basil, or any other veggies you love. You could put it over a bed of lettuce if you wanted to, or spice it up with your favorite herbs.

I hope this gives you some inspiration to try out sardines! If anyone else has delicious recipes for them, please comment :)

Oh, and by the way, I told my naturopath the other day that I’ve been eating this every day and he told me not to worry about taking the pills as long as I’m doing that. Ha! Yay food!

I eat sardines once in a great while, and usually with unhealthy white crackers of some sort or Wheat thins. I never thought of using them just like you would tuna and making a “sardine salad”. I am so unimaginative when it comes to food sometimes. I take the capsule Omega 3 supplements and I don’t really like that. So I’ll give this a try and see what happens!

I’ve been eating them for about 6 mo.s. It was suggested to me after a piece of plaque broke off and caused a heart attack. I was lucky that the heart wasn’t damaged, as they put a stint in immediately. When I left the nutritionist suggested that I sardines were an excellent form of omega oils as well as the bones were a great calcium source. Any way they really are good with wasa rye cracker as well.

Yuck!!! I have a very hard time getting any type of fish down me. What am I supposed to do? I do take fish oil capsules that contain sardines, herring and marcel and it doesn’t give me the burps. My husband loves sardines and I can’t get anywhere near him after he has eaten them. The smell alone makes me sick to my stomach. I used to eat tuna fish until it started making me feel sick. I can stomach a little bit of cod and orange roughy but that is the only fish that I can keep down and I don’t think they contain the omega’s we are looking for. Am I okay just taking the supplements?

My grandpa drank excessive amounts of gin (insert: alcoholic) for a good part of his life and passed away at the ripe old age of 89. We all attribute his long life to his other habit….eating a can of sardines every day! :)

I am so happy I ran across your blog today! This is the second thing I’ve read of yours and now I am on my way out the door to get sardines…
One question…are there any paleo friendly hot sauces (I am very new to the paleo game…day 2) ??

I do something very similar to your sardine recipe, except I haven’t added the avocado. And when using any kind of fish, I always chop up a good handful of cilantro, as it is a known detoxifier of heavy metals, and that would include mercury. Also throw in some parsley, as that too, has detox elements.

Struggle all my life with weight. I have diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis. Only wish I could afford a health practitioner that didn’t shove carbs down me. I am trying to read all I can about Paleo. Been trying to do it for a week now but am feeling very tired and am sleeping a lot.

I’m 58, not using meds for diabetes or M.S. Feeling much better with my sugars these last few days but tired. God, I hope this works. I’m 90 lbs overweight and raising grand kids. Sooo need to feel better.

Brainbuster – Yeah, they’re pretty expensive. They’re top quality, 3rd party assayed brands that are encapsulated such that they don’t go rancid very easily, etc., etc. It’s hard to find a high quality brand that doesn’t cost a lot. I don’t mess around with fish oil supplements because the oil within them is so prone to oxidation.

Mustard, avocado, and sardines (I got mine with tomato paste in a can), all mashed together.
It made great dip for carrots and chips.
I’ve really been wanting to eat sardines for all their benefits, for years, but quit eating them because they’re so, um, gross.
But now I can eat them every day and enjoy it!

My feeling is to eat the oil with the sardine is not the best option, simply because the oil included is just not the high quality olive oil I prefer. Even if I don’t mind oil, I do when it is in excess, I would prefer at least extra virgin.

But here is a question, in case you have some thought, which I don’t expect most people will.

Does the Omega-3 in the sardines dissolve in the oil (or water) in the can that you must eat the oil as well just in order to reap the Omega-3 from the sardines?

As a long-time sardine (and Mackerel) eater, one thing I’ve always struggled with is how to eat them directly from the can without getting oil all over me the rest of the nearby world. E.g., right now I’m in a hotel room and used about a 1/4 roll of TP cleaning up after myself and my sardine breakfast.

The blog post implies that tuna is high in mercury compounds. This is a demonstrable factual error. Canned tuna, e.g. has, for all practical purposes, none. If we wanted to split hairs, we’d say that canned tuna contains ~1 part in 13 million Hg, which is, clinically speaking, nothing. While it’s true that sardines run generally even closer to nothing (~1 part in 100 million), both fish are *far* below an any amount that could possibly be problematic.

People should practice thinking quantitatively rather than having a knee-jerk reaction to insignificant amounts of substances. Pretty much any food you might eat contains mercury. And the relative amounts would be surprising to most. e.g. it’s been shown that vegetables grown closer to high traffic roads contain more Hg compounds than those grown farther from roads. As a consequence, vegetables grown on large farms have less mercury than those grown on small farms. Which means that organic vegetables contain more mercury that factory farmed vegetables. But the amounts we are talking about are, as in the case of most fish, quite insignificant, clinically.

I also struggled with this issue, so much that one time I actually had a can flip out of my hand and land on my colleague two cubes over. Now THAT was emabarrasing. A few months later after he forgave me I came up with a way to eat the sardines, without causing a risk to anyone within the vicinity. I just pulled out a paper plate, placed my sardine can in the middle, and then really focused to ensure I didn’t lose my grip or get distracted. S l o w l y opening the can and finding “I can do this!” Yes! It’s been really good so far.

I just tried some lightly smoked Portuguese sardines packed in olive oil by Bela. They were larger than what I expected from a 4 oz. tin. The taste was great ( I had them with Cheez-its ) and totally defeated all my foul notions of what sardines taste like. I also think they would go well with fried eggplant slices.

I adore sardines, tinned with lemon and olive oil are my favourite. I am addicted to them and often eat them daily with lots of salad/raw foods of all types plus goats feta cheese. Sometimes I add hummus to the salad so no need for other dressings
I stay slim 6 stone uk size 6 eating healthy foods like above but never feel deprived not eating junk or food without any nutritional benefits
nice to see others love sardines too

While I’m all for a healthy diet, I think some people take it too far. Except for honoring specific food allergies, or metabolic diseases such as celiac, proper nutrition can be achieved from a broad variety of foods, including those that some view as ‘unhealthy’. People have been eating processed foods for years, and there’s no evidence that it shortens lifespan, or affects quality of life.

I understand and respect vegetarians, and hope they eat the right food combinations that give them enough nutrient. I don’t understand veganism, but I’m sure that those who practice it have a reason. We appreciate wildlife, including lions and tigers and bears (oh,my!), and they are carnivores, so why can’t we be carnivores too?

That said, I like my sardines with whole wheat, roasted tomato and garlic triscuits…finely diced onion with a little blue cheese dressing on top (horrors!), and dijon mustard. It’s a delicious treat….and the sardines are the star of the show.

I like sardines chopped up and mixed with my tossed salad. I’m sure I would like them on crackers or rye bread but I am trying to eschew breads. I could try them along with a little cheese and maybe grapes and apple slices as an assortment on a plate.

As for the above comment about processed foods, there have been numerous recent studies suggesting (proving?) that processed foods and the chemicals and trans fats they contain could be contributing to diabetes and arthritis, along with many other ailments that have been steadily increasing in the American population in recent decades. When the good nutrients are processed out of whole foods by heat and milling it stands to reason that we’re not getting the best nutrition.

I am not a vegetarian — more of a flexitarian — but I remember a National Geographic Magazine article of a few years ago about centenarians around the world and their eating and lifestyle habits. It happens that the longest-lived folks in the United States are Seventh-Day Adventists, a group which teaches and practices vegetarianism. I vividly remember a picture of a 100-yr-old lady pumping gas!

Personally, I like the freedom of making a variety of wise food choices — organic fruits and vegetables of many colors, whole grains, omega-3 eggs, grass-fed lean beef, oily fish, olive oil, dark chocolate — with perhaps some minimally processed foods such as rolled oats, granola, whole-grain pizza crust, yogurt, whatever will make eating an enjoyable and healthy experience.

I’d like to see some peer-reviewed journal articles that corroborate your statement, “People have been eating processed foods for years, and there’s no evidence that it shortens lifespan, or affects quality of life.”.

I eat Wild Planet sardines as well and they are great brand. However pound for pound, when it comes to Omega 3’s, the Vital Choice brand leaves everyone behind. Sardines in water from Vital Choice contains 1712mg of EPA and 1712mg of DHA in one can!

With regards to Tuna and mercury content. I would read this article about how Selenum, which is high in Tuna, protects against Mercury toxicity. Comparable to the egg yolk cholesterol myth? you decide.

HBG,
Kudos to you for slamming down a can of sardines! There are many benefits to including more protein in the diet, which we previously wrote about here. Also, you may want to check out our article detailing minimum and maximum protein requirements. Keep up the great work! :-)

As a kid I loved sardines dipped in vinegar as a delicious snack. I haven’t eaten sardines in years. After reading this article I’m thinking I’ll incorporate them into my lunches next week! Thanks for sharing! :-)

I love sardines too! Glad you lost all of that weight. Have a problem with sardines though and I am not sure why. I recently returned to sardines after finding out that the Season cans are bpa free. Once I start eating the sardines straight out of the can or in a salad, I get extreme cravings for more and I end up eating another can or two which is ridiculous. That should not happen as the ingredients are very healthy. That used to happen to me, sometimes, with chicken until I switched to certified organic. Suspecting a lining in the can as I have chemical sensitivities and on/off type two diabetes and low thyroid, but suspect that I might be a food addict as I get extreme cravings once I start eating cheese too even when certified organic or imported from Italy (gmo free). I walk 1 hour five days per week. Before returning to the sardines, I cheated with my low glycemic diet and gained ten pounds (5’10” tall, 275) and since binging on sardines yesterday, about 10 cans throughout the day, am now 280.
All of the other posts are positive, so there is something strange with me. Years ago, I had chelation therapy for antimony and lead – that MD said I had chemical sensitivities and diabetes and years later diagnosed the thyroid issue. I suspect the weight gain from all of the chem trails in NJ right now – extreme white out conditions – several days per week – but do not understand the sardine cravings. Thanks for reading my long blog comment. Please help with any constructive advice.

Hi Robert,
It’s hard to know what those intense sardine cravings could be about! Sometimes people crave foods because their bodies are deficient in a nutrient that is provided by that food. Sometimes we crave foods for psychological reasons (i.e. addiction, emotional eating), and sometimes people crave foods because they are allergic to them and when they eat them they get a small endorphin rush! In any case, a couple cans/day of sardines shouldn’t be problematic, but ideally you might consider switching up the fish source, and consuming a variety of omega-3 rich fishies. By adding variety to your diet, you minimize the risk of developing food intolerance/allergies, you minimize over-consuming any one food source (which can lead to excesses in certain nutrients), and you diversify the nutrients in your diet. Best of luck to you friend!

you totally just saved me! i’ve been staring at this darn tin of sardines for a week now, trying to get the courage to even open it. imagine my delight when i did, and found that they didn’t have heads! LOL! i simply was not able to stomach the thought of popping them in my mouth like others suggest…your avocado suggestion saved the day, and it’s delicious! thanks!!!

I started eating sardines after I saw Dr. Oz eat some. I buy the ones at Trader Joe’s that have only two ingredients in the can: Sardines and spring water. I eat them right out of the can. Sometimes I will pour them into a small bowl and eat them just like that. Doing the low carb diet, so sardines are included in my menu. So glad the heads are removed!

When I was a boy, my grandfather would always eat sardines.. Always in olive oil. He said anything else was garbage. When he used to get together with a bunch of his friends, he’d go over his friend’s house and introduce me to about 6 or 7 other people.. All gathered there to eat lunch.. The lunch was sardines.. They used to put them on bread and make a sandwich out of them or eat them plain but the old people seem to know what they need.. At least that generation did.. So for those who think sardines look gross.. I understand but they taste pretty good and I got over it real quick as a kid so it couldnt have been that bad.

I love the idea of raising chickens but I think people can still eat sustainably harvested sardines without worry if they’re so inclined. You’re right, Atlantic sardines are in decline and according to http://www.seafoodwatch.org they should be avoided by consumers. Pacific sardines however, are still a Seafood Watch “Best Choice.” In addition, there’s reason to believe that harvesting sardines and other forage fish for human consumption isn’t really the problem. Overfishing to provide food for larger fish such as farmed salmon and supplements for land animal feed is what depletes the habitats http://grist.org/sustainable-food/we-catch-too-many-sardines-but-should-we-stop-eating-them/.

In defense of fish oil supplements, there are many out on the market now with specialized high amounts of DHA (or EPA) per pill. At my local store, I can purchase a bottle of 60 capsules containing 400mg of DHA and 155mg of EPA per pill, for $17 (albeit Canadian dollars, but in US dollars the price would be a similar $15 or so).

I strongly suggest you do your own research before heeding the advice of any medical “professional”. Eating fish everyday may be hazardous to your health — either because of mercury or BPA (if the fish are canned). In my opinion, fish oil supplements are much preferred over the long run.

And, just to add, I think your Naturopath is either ignorant or a fraud. He/she was pushing you to purchase mediocre fish oil capsules with low Omega-3 content for $75 for only 60 capsules? WOW. I would have skedaddled right out of there. You can’t trust many doctors these days, because top executives from pharmaceutical companies too often take them out to fancy dinners and such to persuade them to push their products onto their unwitting patients.

Thanks for commenting! While I’m not the original author of this post, I am one of Paleo Plan’s current staff nutritionists, and I have to agree that there are many fish oil supplements on the market that are good quality (from wild caught fish, without nasty fillers, etc.) and don’t cost a small fortune! I personally take DHA supplements daily as part of my prenatal routine, but I also eat regular amounts of fish (all kinds!). There can be downsides to fish oil supplements, canned fish, or wild caught fish, but recent research indicates that the benefits of eating fish regularly and taking supplements far outweigh any risks that exist from mercury. It’s all about choosing quality supplements and foods, but really, that’s true for just about anything!

I have been eating sardines to get my weight back down! and it is working! 10 lbs in one week
I am working in Angola so not much access to things to add flavor.
You need variety so I do a few different things to add flavor.
1. poor some sweet baby rays barbeque sauce and either make a sandwich or just by it self
tastes like a barbecue sandwich
2. Steak sauce also works
3. mustard and hot sauce isn’t bad

YAY! I love sardines :D My trick for eating them is getting them canned in water. When opening them I only pull the lid back a smidge and pour as much fluid off as I can into the sink or trash can. That makes them significantly less messy. Also, when I’m home, I totally run water into the can to get all the extra stuff off before I open them. I prefer a plainer taste. One of my favorite ways to eat them is on a bed of raw spinach, onion, and tomato, w/ a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar. I also love them with over easy eggs and hot sauce. Chopped boiled eggs, avocado, cucumber, and sardines w/ a lil mayo and pepper is delicious too :D

So happy I ran across your post today. I have been eating sardines this week and am having a hard time getting past the spine bone. Are you supposed to eat it? You mentioned the extra calcium so I am guessing that the answer to my question is yes :)

I’m not smashing those Littles fishes up, no way. Straight from the can daily. Threr or four sardines curbs the hunger with a good all around diet sardines will help with weight loss, a better heart, you know the drill.

Hi. I’m new to this site and just learning about paleo. Due to a medical condition I can’t eat meat comfortably (I miss it!!) so eat fish almost every day, either sardines, salmon or mackeral, usually canned because it’s less expensive. I Really like Wild Planet sardines in water. I’ll add salmon to a salad but I’m a sardine purist lol; rinse ’em off and munch those puppies plain. From what I’ve read, the three fish mentioned are very low on the Mercury concern list. After enjoying your Wild Planet sardines, have a square of Ghirardelli 72% dark chocolate. Maybe it’s the salt in the Sardines but it’s a great pairing. Ok you can stop laughing hysterically; try it! For the person on a Mediterranean diet who posted, medi people eat lots of fish, particularly sardines.

I love Sardines my mom use to eat them all the time!! I eat them with mustard, or hot sauce, They are really taking the pounds off of me!!I also drink green tea and lots of water!! I use to be in a size 22! Now I’m in a size 8!! But the weight keeps coming off so fast new pants are already needed !! Sardines I give them 100%..

Take a can of good sardines and fry in butter (can use unsalted butter), just to heat through. Pour into bowl. Add 1 avocado, cut up. Add two spoonfuls of Kimchi (could also use sauerkraut), salt and pepper, and stir up a bit, kind of breaking the chunks of sardine up. There’s the fish taste and texture, with creamy avocado, and sour, spicy, crunchy Kimchi. Delicious.